Mardi Gras parades won't be re-routed after New Orleans fire

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The fire that ravaged two buildings on New Orleans' famous Canal Street won't require Mardi Gras parades to be re-routed.

The first parades start Friday.

The city notes that the block of Canal Street where the fires occurred is just outside the traditional routes for the parades. The processions start in the uptown area and roll down St. Charles Avenue before turning on to Canal. The route U-turns on Canal just short of the block where Wednesday's fire occurred.

The city says the facades of the fire-damaged buildings that face Canal are stable, with no imminent danger of collapse.

A tall fence will be erected to keep people away from what's left of the two buildings.